Living in a society so surrounded by taboo and stigma, in my opinion, it is vital for therapists to be open and accepting in general, and this includes conversations around sex. Sex is one of our most basic and natural human needs. It is my belief that conversation around consensual sex and pleasure (regardless of sexuality or gender identity/expression) should be had in a healthy and open manner in order to be able to break away from the guilt and shame that society has made synonymous with sex - and this is how I would define sex positivity.

To me, being an ally primarily means being a safe space. Along with that, ally-ship to me encompasses celebrating, supporting, learning, and advocating. My practice is named Identity: Beyond the Binary, because I always want to highlight myself and the space that I offer as inclusive, non-judgemental and safe. Being an ally does not mean having all the answers, it means showing up and consciously choosing to unlearn the stigma society has taught us, and to recognise human experience through an intersectional lens rather than individual parts of an unrelated whole.

There are multiple ways in which the outcomes of trauma therapy show up for survivors:
1. being able to process their thoughts and emotions around the triggering/distressing event/s
2. being able to challenge problematic beliefs that have built due to the traumatic event/s
3. feeling validated and being able to validate and accept their own experience without blame/dismissal
4. being able to cope with the distress in a healthy manner through coping tools and strategies learnt in therapy

In my first session with a client, we discuss certain expectations we want from the therapy space which gives us a direction to take the sessions forward in. However, sessions moving forward are not as structured as the first. A typical session with me looks like a conversation wherein we deep dive into certain thoughts, feelings, incidents through directed questions such that the conversation flows naturally, but offers you insights and a greater level of clarity. Often, clients bring in questions that they want to discuss and work through. Other times, clients want to change unhealthy patterns of behaviour and that becomes the focus. I enjoy bringing in light elements of humour in sessions, as well as using pop culture references to explain certain concepts or as analogies. I encourage using the space the way you want to, and so if what you need that day is to cry or vent, or feel anger or frustration or happiness or excitement, I am here to listen and experience those emotions with you.